“We bought bluebonnet seed and strew it in Lions Park,” Aliceanne Wallace, 82, remembered. “A gaggle of geese started following them and eating up the seed. So they didn’t get any bluebonnets.” She laughed.
But the group focused on helping others, and the community has benefitted from the harvest.
The latest bounty came last week when the International General Federation of Women’s Clubs awarded the Bluebonnet Club second place in its Community Improvement division and a $3,500 prize at its convention in Waco.
Ms. Wallace was there to receive the award.
“I knew we had won something and as they counted them off from fifth place, I was so excited when there were only two left,” she said. “First place was very deserving, but we are proud to bring this prize back to continue our commitment to the work of Families in Crisis.”
FIC has served Bell, Hamilton and Coryell counties for many years but in 2006, it opened a shelter for victims of family violence in Temple.
“Aliceanne has been working really hard for years to make the shelter a reality,” said Suzanne Armour, interim co-executive director (with William Hall) of Families in Crisis. “The Bluebonnets have been great supporters and they’ve been active in keeping things moving.”
Wallace said one of the requirements for the award was working in conjunction with other groups and she lauded – and thanked – Leadership Temple for providing the building for the new shelter and members of Altrusa for their dedication.
Bluebonnet Club Past President Neva Meisch said the group, whose membership has dwindled to 14 or 15 women, has supported FIC for many years with a donation at the beginning of the year, donations of toiletries throughout the year and, at Christmas, donations of items on the FIC needs list and of money.
They also provided linens, tables and lamps for one of the rooms.
“We’re real thrilled that we’re able to do this,” Meisch said. “It surely is nice to have a local shelter. It’s so much better for our community to have a safe place right here.”
In addition to helping FIC over the years, in December 2006, the Bluebonnets put family violence in Bell County in the spotlight with a forum.
At the forum, Wallace told those gathered that, “Bell County has a dirty little secret. We rank sixth in the nation in the number of child abuse cases.”
The panel included Charles VanOrden, associate judge with the Centex Child Protection Court in Belton, who noted that animal shelters outnumber battered women’s shelters in Texas 3 to 1. Bell County Attorney Richard J. ‘Rick’ Miller told those attending that “Of all the duties I have, (working as an attorney in domestic and child abuse cases) is the saddest. It’s unbelievable what people will do to their own children that even animals won’t do.”
Mrs. Meisch said she appreciates Mrs. Wallace’s commitment to the issue of family violence, “We’re proud of her. She’s such a hard worker and she doesn’t mind doing things like this. In fact, I don’t think she can stand still.”
Well, she won’t on Tuesday when the Bluebonnet Club meets at 10 a.m. at the City Federation of Women’s Club Clubhouse, 219 King Circle, to discuss the FIC donation.
“We had wanted to build a playground but Leadership Temple did that earlier this year,” she said. “So we’ll talk about if there’s another big project they need done or if the money would be better used for operational expenses.
In addition to supporting FIC, the Bluebonnets also support services of the VA, the M.D. Anderson Hospital and the Children’s Advocacy Center in Belton.
Mrs. Wallace said they are always looking for new members who would like to help the community.
“People need to know the power of small groups,” she said. “They really can make a difference.”
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For more information on Families in Crisis, call (254) 634-1184 in Killeen, (254) 773-7765 in Temple, (254) 939-6240 in Belton, (254) 865-8553 in Gatesville, (254) 386-8394 in Hamilton or find them on-line at www.familiesincrisis.net
The toll-free crisis hotline for victims needing assistance is 1-888-799-SAFE (7233).
